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Theme of the day: The end is in sight. They’re in the final three weeks of the session, and the atmosphere seemed a little different. Several committees paid tribute to their staff aides and thanked members for their work on legislation, as they won’t be meeting again this year. Not meeting effectively kills many unheard bills. House and Senate budget conferees are expected to begin negotiations later in the week. And, more and more, members seemed to preface their remarks with something like, “Since we’re in the final days of the session…” whether they were happy about it or not.

Ready for war: A resolution urging Congress to declare war on ISIS, Al Qaeda, “and all other global Islamic terrorist organizations that similarly engage in acts of terrorism” was approved unanimously by the Senate Military Affairs, Veterans, Space and Domestic Security Committee. The resolution now goes to the Senate Rules Committee for scheduling on the floor of the chamber. Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, sponsored the proposal.

Politics: Chosen House speakers and Senate presidents seldom lose their seats, but Senate President-designate Joe Negron, R-Stuart, has drawn a Democratic opponent. Bruno Moore of Port St. Lucie, has opened a campaign account to challenge the veteran lawmaker.

Also, a Democrat is trying to flip a House seat in Volusia county. Rep. Fred Costello, R-Ormond Beach, is term-limited and three Republicans are running to succeed him. Democrat Noel Bickford filed for the District 25 seat late last week.

Elevator safety: The House Governmental Operations Committee unanimously approved a bill by Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, to improve safety features on elevators in residential buildings. The bill is named for Maxwell Erik “Max” Grablin, a 12-year-old boy who was crushed when he entered an elevator shaft looking for his pet hamster last year.

Message sent: Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, conceded to the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee his bill requiring self-service gas stations pumps to have a working receipt printer isn’t the most burning issue of the session. But in the 11 counties he represents, some elderly residents are quite steamed about not getting a receipt at the gas pump. He said others who need a receipt for a gas purchases have had to take young children out of their car streets in the rain and carry them into the store, where they then have to wait for people buying Power Ball tickets. The bill might not go anywhere – Montford asked that it be tabled – but he got his message delivered: the Florida Retail Association has contacted its members about the issue.

Motorcyclesafety: It was supposed to be ABATE day at the Capitol, when hundreds of motorcyclists roar up Apalachee Parkway and fill the Capitol courtyard for a ceremony honoring victims of cycling wrecks and lobbying legislator son safety issues. ABATE wasn’t able to firm up a commitment from the Department of Management Services this year, so there was no big bike-in. The organization is still in town, though, working for passage of a “vulnerable road user” bill (SB 332), increasing penalties for causing accidents injuring bicyclists and motorcycle riders, as well as a $300,000 appropriation for motorcycle safety programs.

Quote of the Day: “There’s nothing inherently criminal about money, per se. It depends on the context that you find it in.” Rep. Larry Metz, R-Yalaha, explaining his bill reforming asset-forfeiture laws in the House Appropriations committee.